Apparatus for stacking and conveying objects



April 5, 1949. G. H. HARRED 2,466,544

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Filed Oct. 12, 1946 APril 5, 1949. G. H. HARRED 2,466,544

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April 5, 1949. G. H. HARRED 2,466,544

APPARATUS FOR STACKING AND CONVEYING OBJECTS Filed Oct. 12, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 In Den For Geozyeflllarred jllorn 9/5 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 APPARATUS FOR STACKING AND CONVEYING OBJECTS George H. Han-ed, East Greenwich, It. 1., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Bostitch, Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application October 12, 1946, Serial No. 702,987

1 This invention relates to an apparatus for transferring various objects and articles from a processing machine to another location and particularly to an apparatus for counting sheets, carton-blanks or the like as they are delivered from the processing machine and transporting them in measured quantities to a desired location.

The present invention is particularly concerned with improvements in an apparatus of the type disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,424,093, dated July 15, 1947, and this application is in part a continuation thereof.

One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the type indicated adapted to receive carton-blanks or similar sheet-like articles as they are discharged from a processing machine, count and stack the articles ingroups or piles of certain number andthereafter transfer the stacks or piles to a location where they may be further processed or tied together in bun-- dies for shipment.

A particular object of the present improvement is to provide an apparatus of the type indicated which is accurate in counting the carton-blanks or other objects, capable of stacking them in precise alined relationship, transporting the stacks while maintaining the blanks in alinement, handling the blanks or other objects at high speed and generally operating efliciently for thepurpose described.

Another object is to provide an apparatus o the type indicated adapted for convenient adjustment for objects of different dimensions, both transversely and longitudinally, and also readily adjustable for varying the number of objects deposited in each stack.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the apparatus, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the present improved apparatus shown as arranged for use with a wire-stitching or stapling machine for receiving and stacking the stitched carton-blanks feeding therefrom and also illustrating a stand or truck on which the stacks are deposited by the apparatus:

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational side view of the apparatus showing its parts more in detail;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged side elevational view of the apparatus, part-sectional on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing its main operating mechanisms:

11 Claims. (61. 271-75) Fig. 5 is a complementary, side elevational view of the delivery end of the apparatus, in the same plane as that of Fig. 4, showing a portion of the driving connections;

Fig. 6 is a part-sectional detailed view of the clamping means for the adjustable carriage ntiouiting the rests and releasing arms for the 5 ac Fig. 7 is a part-sectional, end-elevational view of a portion of the apparatus on line 1-1 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow;

Fig. 8 is a view of the control-box shown with its cover broken away to illustrate the electrically-operated ratchet-means for counting the objects as they are assembled in each stack;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the same showing the control-box in section to illustrate the mechanism contained therein;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the ratchet-mechanism as having been operated to initiate the conveying or a stack along the apparatus;

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of the ratchet-control mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a view of the operating mechanism for the rotary spiders which control the grouping of the articles in a stack and illustrating the driving means therefor aslocked in fixed position;

Fig. 13 is a similar view of the driving mechanism for the rotary spiders showing it unlocked to permit rotation of the spiders;

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the spiders as being rotated from the driving means;

Fig. 15 is a similar view illustrating the spiders as turned to a further advanced position (the showing of one of the arms of each spider being omitted in the last four described views to avoid obscuring other parts of the device);

Fig. 16 is a detailed view of the clutch-mechanism for connecting the drive to operate the stackreleasing means;

Fig. 1! is a detailed view in reduced scale sho ing the mechanism for operating the slidable pusher-guide for maintaining the blanks in alinement in thestack as they are conveyed along the apparatus; and

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring and electrical elements of the apparatus shown 1 in their relation to the counting mechanism at the head-end of the apparatus.

In the manufacture of various sheet-like articles it is a common practice to deliver the processed objects from a cutting, printing, labeling. taping, stitching or other processing machine to 3 a table or bench and thereafter manually group the" articles in a stack. The objects are generally counted, stacked and tied together manually to form bundles suitable for shipment or in some cases they are stacked for further processing. The number of articles such as sheets contained in each stack or bundle generally depends upon the size and type of the processed articles and thepurpose for which they are to be used. For example, cardboard or fiber cartons are usually manufactured in plants employing machinery for carrying out the various steps of cutting the sheet-material to the required size. slitting and scoring the blanks .to form the panels and flaps of the cartons, stitching or taping the panels together and finally counting the completed blanks and tyingthem together in bundles of predetermined number. These bundles or stacks of blanks then may be transported to other plants for use in packing and shipping various articles in the cartons or containers.

The present invention is concerned particularly with providing an' improved apparatus for receiving processed sheet-like articles as they are delivered from any usual processing machine. counting and assembling the articles in groups or stacks of predetermined number and transporting the stacks to a location where the articles maybe further processed or tied in bundles for shipment. More specifically, the present improved apparatus comprises a series of continuously-moving conveyor-belts, means for receiving and stacking the sheet-like articles above the conveyor-belts without contact therewith,

means for counting the individual articles as they are delivered by the processing machine and stacked above the belts, means for controlling the arrangement of the stacked articles in symmetrical alined relationship, and means operative as each stack is completed to a predetermined number of articles for releasing the stack onto the conveyor-belts and transporting it to another location.

Example of one type of processing machine Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the present improved apparatus. designated generally by the reference character 2, is herein shown as arranged for use with a carton-stitching or stapling machine M for receiving the stitched cartonblanks as the latter are'delivered therefrom. It is to be understood, however, that this showing is by way of example only, since the present apparatus is applicable to other uses in counting and stacking various objects or articles as they are delivered thereto from other types of processing machines. After the articles have been counted and stacked in predetermined number the stacks are transported or conveyed from the apparatus and asshown in Fig. 1 they, may be deposited on a wheeled table or truck 3 for tyin in bundles suitablefor shipment. The wirestitching machine M, herein shown by way of example. may be of the type disclosed in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,381,743, dated August '7, 1945. Since the stitcher M forms no they build up to form an irregular pile. The

blanks are piled on the bench or table haphazardly so that it is difficult to count the units and frequently the pile topples over to render the counting and bundling laborious and time-consuming. To obviate these difllculties the present invention provides an improved apparatus for receiving and stacking the blanks directly as they are delivered from the processing machine, counting the blanks as they are assembled in a stack and transporting the completed stacks to another location where they may be conveniently bun:

died or served to another processing machine.

General organization of the apparatus Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the apparatus may comprise a rectangular framework 5 formed by channeland angle-irons and constituting a raised bed supported by four legs or corner posts 5 carrying casters 1 for rolling it on the floor. If desired, a suitable clamping device (not herein shown) may be employed for anchoring the framework to the floor. Referring particularly to the enlarged views. Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6. the bed of the machine may be constituted by side rails I of channel-iron connected together at the opposite ends by similar channelirons 9 and II. The legs l may be constructed of lengths of angle-iron bolted or welded to the side rails I and connected at their lower ends by angle-iron stretchers or braces ll welded or bolted thereto. The framework 5 may be further braced by cross-members I! of angle-iron extending between and fastened to the stretchers H. as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.

Driving mechanism As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the right-hand end of the apparatus which mounts the mechanism for receiving. counting and stacking the sheets may be considered the head of the machine, while its opposite end carries the motordrive for the operating mechanism of the apparatus. Supported in a hanger i4 depending from the horizontal stretchers or braces ii is an electric motor l5 connected by a belt l6 to a relatively large pulley H. The pulley l1 fast on a short shaft it which is journaled in a bearing 19 mounted on one of the legs 6 of the framework 5, see Fig. 5. The shaft It carries a sprocket 20 fast thereon and connected by a transmission chain 2| to a sprocket 22 on a transverse shaft 21 journaled in bearings 24 bolted to the overhanging ends of the side rails 8 at this end of the machine. The shaft 23 also carries another sprocket 25 on its outer end beyond the forward side rail 8 which is connected by a chain 21 to a sprocket 28 on a shaft ll. The shaft 30 is journaled in bearings at the upper end of a bracket 3| having its base supported from the hanger H which serves as the mounting for the electric motor I! at the driving end of the machine, see

. Figs. 2'and 5. The shaft 30 carries an edge-cam part of the present invention, suffice it to state that it has automatically-operated means for intermittently. feeding the stitched carton-blanksor eccentric 35 with its periphery engaging a roller 36 journaled on a fork 31. The fork 31 is pivotally connected at 39 to an oscillatable lever ll fast on a shaft 4| Journaled in bearings 42 mountedon a plate I! bolted to two of the angleiron braces which extend between the stretchers I i connecting the legs 6 of the framework 5. The fork 31 straddles the side of a block 43 on the shaft II and is adapted to slide thereon under the impulse of the eccentric 35' acting against the roller IS. The lever 40 is oscillated by the eccentric 35 to rock a second parallel lever 44 fast on the shaft 4| at the forward side of the machine as viewed in Fig. 3. A horizontal bar 45 is pivoted to the upper end of the lever 44 at 48 to adapt it to be reciprocated longitudinally therefrom. The reciprocablebar 45 is employed for actuating a pair of rotary spiders 58 having radial arms which engagethe end of the stack S as later more specifically described, see Figs. 1, 4 and. 7; and also to operate a movable pusher-guide for the stack described in detail hereinafter.

Stack-conveying means The transverse shaft 23 is rotated continuously by the drive-pulley Il driven from the motor I5. Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the shaft 23 carries a series of four pulleys 55 fast thereon and spaced at intervals therealong. A second series of spaced pulleys 56, shown in Figs. 3 and 7, are fast on a transverse shaft 51 journaled in bearings 58 bolted to the side rails 8 at the opposite or head end of the machine and alined with the first series of pulleys for receiving endless conveyor-belts 88. The belts 58 have their upper courses stretching substantially the full length of the framework 5 and passing down around idler pulleys 8| on a shaft 82 at the head end of the frame 5. The shaft 82 is journaled in bearings 83 supported from hangers 84 fastened to the ends of the side rails 8, see Fig. 2. The lower courses of the belts 88 extend back toward the opposite end of the framework 5 to pass around their drive pulleys 55 with belt-tighteners 85 intervening therebetween.

Each belt-tightener 85, see Fig. 5, is constitutedas a crossarm 88 rockably mounted on a shaft 81 held in bearings ,88 fastened to the legs 8 of the framework 5 and carrying idler pulleys 88 and i8 journaled on the ends of the arm. Each belt 88 passes under its respective idler pulley 18, thence over the idler pulley 89 and continues therefrom around its drive pulley 55. For adjusting the belt-tighteners 85 to take up the slack in the helm 88, each arm 86 has a rearward extension II engaged by the end of a bolt 12 screwed through the flange of an angle-iron 13 extending between and fastened to the end legs 8 of the framework 5. By turning the bolts I2 the belttighteners 85 can be rocked to tighten the belt 88 and a check-nut 14 on each bolt serves to lock it in position to maintain the adjustment.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 7, the upper courses ofthe belts 88 overlie and slide on two lengths of fiberboard I5 extending substantially the length of the framework 5 and resting on angle-iron rails 16, see Fig. 7, which are connected at their ends to'angular brackets 11 fastened to the channel-irons 9 and I8 which connect the side rails 8. The ends of the boards 15 clear the faces of the pulleys55 and 58 to permit the belts to pass thereover and their angle-iron rails I8 which extend the whole length of the framework have their upper flanges cut away at 18 to clear the faces of the pulleys. The four belts 88, shown in section in Fig. '7, serve as the means for supporting and conveying the stacks of blanks from the apparatus, it being here noted that in some instances where stacks of relatively "narrow blanks are being conveyed only the two belts of the inner pair are in operation; whereas, when wider blanks are being operated upon the two outer belts may be employed to support their ends.

Stack-guiding means Each completed stack of carton-blanks is guided along the length of the apparatus by means of side-boards 88, see Figs. 2, 3 and 'LWhich 8 are adjustable in accordance with the width of the stack. Two pairs of brackets 8| at opposite ends of the framework 5 support the verticallypositioned side-boards 88 which are suitably attached to their upright portions. The brackets 8I are adapted to be mounted in adjustable spaced-apart relationship on elbow-shaped arms 82. The arms 82 are bolted to the outer ends of square rods 83 and reach upwardly in curved portions, extending inwardly to overlie the top of the framework 5. The horizontal extensions of the arms 82 are provided with series of drilled holes 84 adapted to receive hook-like pins 85 projecting downwardly from the ends of the brackets 8|. Each bracket 8| is formed with a foot 88 at its outer end, the under face of which is convexed and adapted to rest-on the top of the horizontal extension of its respective arm 82. At the inner end of each bracket 8| are vertical extensions straddling an angle-iron 89 which is fastened to and extends the length of the sideboards 88 to reinforce it. Each side-board 88 is fastened to the vertical portion of the-bracket 8| with screws or other means not herein shown. At the head end of the machine a pair of curved arms or brackets 92 are fastened to the angleiron brace 89, see Fig. 4, with vertical pins or studs 81 at their lower ends resting upon flat sheet-metal strips 88 to serve as further supports for the side-boards 88. The strips or rests 88 are supported with their outer ends brazed or welded to the under side of the angle-irons I8. previously described as extending the length of the frameworkand underlying the boards 15; while their inner ends rest on the upright flanges of angle-irons 11 which are fastened to the channel-iron cross-members I8 at the head end of the framework 5. As before indicated, the sideboards 88 may be adjusted toward or away from each other by lifting the brackets 8| off from the arms 82 and placing their pins 85 in different holes 84 in the horizontal extensions of the arms. To provide for a maximum extent of adjustment of the side-boards 80 outwardly beyond the two outside conveyor-belts 88, when blanks of extreme width are being operated upon, the arms 82 themselves are movable outwardly with respect to the sides of the framework 5. For this purpose the square rods 83 which mount the arms 82 are slidable in bearings 98 having depending portions 9| welded to the outer faces of the side rails 8. Set-screws 95 screwed into the sides of the bearings 98 provide for locking the bars 89 with the arms82 in adjusted position. When the arms 82 are adjusted outwardly beyond the sides of the framework 5 the studs 81.

Blank-stacking and alim'ng means As before stated, the carton-blanks B are delivered from the processing machine at the head end of the apparatus, being received and guided into overlying alined relationship by stacking means embodying spaced uprights forming a compartment shown'more particularly in Fig. 2.

7 end of elbow-shaped arms I03 which are mounted on a transverse rod I04. The rod I04 is supported from brackets I which are bolted at I00 to the vertical flanges of the angle-iron 10, previously mentioned as supporting the boards on which the outer conveyor-belts slide. The

upright guides I00 have their upper portions inclined rearwardly while their lower ends are bent forwardly at right-angles to form rests I01 on which the rearward end of .the stack S of blanks B is supported as shown in Fig. 2. A third vertical upright or guide IIII. see Figs. 4 and 7, is mounted to slide longitudinally of the bed of the machine as the stack S starts its travel on the conveyor-belts 00. The movable guide H0 is employed particularly to maintain the stacked blanks B in .alined relationship throughout a part of their travel. The guide IIO may comprise a strip of sheet-metal brazed or welded to an upright arm III and having a blade 2 adjustably mounted to slide vertically thereon. For this purpose a bolt I I3 carrying a wing-nut I I4 passes through a hole in the slidable blade H2 and through a vertical slot H5 in the upright IIO so that it may be adjusted in height in accordance with the height of the stack S of blanks B being handled. The arm I II has'a bearing H5 at its lower end enclosin a'square rod I to adapt the arm for adjustment longitudinally thereof, a setscrew I2I serving to lock the arm in its position of adjustment. The rod I20 is slidable in an elongated bearing-box I22 mounted on a bracket I23 which is belted to the channel-iron or crossmember I0. The rod I20 is connected by means of an arm I24 to a lower parallel rod I25. slidable in a second bearing box I20, also forming a part of the bracket I23. The opposite end of the slidable rod I25 is connected by a pivoted link I21 to a rockable lever I20 fast on a shaft I20 and carrying a second lever I30, see Fig. 7, fast thereon to which the horizontal slide bar 45, previously described, is pivotally connected at I3I. The shaft I20 is journaled in bearings I32 on brackets I33 welded or otherwise fastened to the opposite legs 0 of the framework 5; see Fig. 2. Fig. 17 illustrates the construction and arrangement of these last-described elements for sliding the guide IIII forwardly during the movement of the stack S as the eccentric 35 is actuated by the driving mechanism of the machine, previously described. A spring I35 connected to the lever I20 and anchored at its opposite end to a pin I30 0n the under side of the bearing I20 tends to draw the lever I20 toward the right as viewed in Figs. 4 and 17. A more detailed explanation of the method of operation of this part of the mechanism is given hereinafter in connection with the description of the operation of the complete apparatus.

Blank-feeding means The carton-blanks or other sheet-like objects are delivered from the processing machine to feed across a pair of guide-wheels or rollers I40, see Figs. 2 and 4, mounted on a shaft I. The shaft MI is journaled in a bracket I42 mounted on an angle-shaped support I43 which is bolted to or formed as a part of an upright I44. The upright I44 is bolted to a square bar I45 supported in a bearing-box I supported upon the-transverse rod I04, see Fig. 7. A set-screw I41 in the top of the bearing-box I40 may be released to allow adjustment of the rod I to regulate the position of the guide-wheels I40. A second upright or standard I40 is bolted or otherwise secured to adapt them to be spaced apart a suitable distance sprocket I50.

to accommodate carton-blanks of extreme width. The pairs of feed-rolls I50 and I5I are driven continuouslyfrom the transverse shaft 51 which carries the belt-pulleys 50 at the head end of themachine. For this purpose a sprocket I55 fast on the shaft 51 drives an endless transmission chain I 51 running over sprockets I50 and I50 keyed to the shafts I52 and I50. As shown in Fig. 4, the chain I51 extends from the drive-sprocket I55 to the driven sprockets I50 and I50, with its slack length leading upwardly and riding over an adjustable idler-sprocket I00, thence under a second fixed idler-sprocket IOI to lead up to the The adjustable sprocket I00 is journaled on a stud I 52 which is slidable in a slot I03 in an inclined member I04 forming a part of or fastened to the upright I40. As the shaft 51 is driven by the belts 00 passing over the pulleys 50 the sprocket and chain connections between said shaft and the shafts I52 and I53 will rotate the feed-rolls I50 and I5I in contra-clockwise direction. The feed-rolls I 50 and I5I will thus function to feed the carton-blanks forwardly and downwardly across the ends of the upright guides I00 and II 0 to deposit them in the stack S. see Fig. 2. As shown in this latter view, a guard I05 is mounted above the rollers I50 and I5I as a precaution against the blanks rising up of! the latter as they are delivered from the processing machine. Preferably, the guard I05 is in the form of an inclined spring-blade looped at its rearward end and fastened to a bracket I00 which is mounted on a horizontal tubular arm I01. The arm I01 projects laterally from a column I00 rising from one side of the framework of the machine, see Fig. 7. As shown in this latter view the column I00 may be formed of a suitable length of pipe connected to a lower horizontal pipe I05 by an elbow I10 and secured to the transverse rod I04, previously described as supported from brackets I 05 fastened to the angle-iron supports 10 at the side of the framework 5, see Figs. 4 and 7. The tubular column I00 and its cross-arm I01 serve as a conduit for the electrical wiring of the apparatus shown in the schematic view, Fig. 10.

Blank-counting means The blanks fed from the processing machine are counted during their delivery to the apparatus by means of a photo-electric unit at the head end of the machine. This unit is of substantially the same construction as shown and described in my pending application, Serial No. 522,012, previously referred to above. As shown more particularly in Figs. 1, and 2, the counting unit may comprise an electric lamp I15 or other source of light mounted on the horizontal cross-arm I 01 of the column I 00 previously mentioned. The beam of light L, indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 18, is projected downwardly to a photoelectric cell or light-sensitive tube I10 contained within a box I 11. The box I11 is suspended from a rod I10 bolted to the flange of the channeliron cross-member I extending across the frame-; work at the head end of the machine.

Control-unit The control-unit comprising the electromagnetically-actuated ratchet-means is contained in a control-box or casing I86 bolted to one of the legs 6 at the head end of the machine, see Fig. 2, and provided with a hinged cover I81 which may be opened for inspecting and adjusting the device. Referring to Figs. 8 to 10, the mechanism within the casing I86 is substantially the same in construction and arrangement as that shown in my pending application referred to above and will be. described only briefly herein.

A vertically-extending bracket I90 has laterally-projecting arms I9I', see Fig. 8, fastened to bosses on the rearward wall of the box l86 by means of bolts I92 shown in Fig. 9. Journaled is a switch 2I3 employed for closing the circuit to a solenoid 2I5 which controls the operation of the clutch-mechanism designated generally at 253 in Fig. 16. The clutch 258 is operated to connect the driving mechanism to actuate the means for lowering the stack'of blanks onto the conveyor-belts 60 and releasing the stack for transfer thereby. all as more particularly explained hereinafter. The horizontal arm 2I6 of the bellcrank 200 has a link 2I9 connected at its opposite end to the plunger armature 220 of the solenoid I85. A spring 22I hooked to the arm 2I6 and anchored to the bracket I90 tends to raise the arm to rock the bell-crank 200 in clockwise direction to carry the pawl I rearwardly on the teeth of the ratchet-disk I95. A screw 222 in the overhanging portion of the bracket I90 is adjustable to adapt its end to engage the arm I m to limit the movement of the bell-crank unin a hub-like bearing I93 on the bracket I90 is a shaft I94 reduced in diameter at its outer end to receive a ratchet-wheel or disk I95 held against the shoulder on the shaft by ahand-nut I96. A bell-crank lever 200 has its hub mounted to turn on the shaft I94 with its upright arm carrying a pivotedpawl 20I biased by a spring 202 to cause its pointed end to engage with the teeth I91 on the ratchet-disk I 95. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the ratchet-disk I95 is provided with ilfty teeth on its periphery whereof it may be used for counting fifty blanks. or less numbers thereof, such as five, ten, twenty-five, etc. The disks I95 are provided with .a series of equidistantly-spaced holes 203 arranged circumferentially thereof for receiving pins 205fadapted to actuate the switch for controlling the circuit to a solenoid 2I5, see Fig. 16, which-operates the clutch-mechanism at the driving end of the ma-' chine. The pins 205 are screwed into the holes 203 and locked in place by nuts 206. The holes in the disk I95 and the teeth of the ratchet may vary in number with the number of blanks to be counted and deposited in each stack for transfer from the machine; difierent disks for this purpose being usually furnished with the apparatus. 203 are shown as spaced flve teeth apart with two pins 205 inserted therein at diametricallyopposite points or spaced at 180 around the disk I95 whereof to adjust the device to adapt it'to count twenty-five blanks for a stack. The bracket I90 has a lateral extension 201 at the top from which projects aninclined arm 208. A setscrew 2I0 threaded through the end of-the arm 208 is adjustable to adapt its end to engage the end of the pawl 20I to limit the extent of its throw in turning the ratchet-disk I95. The screw 2I0 may be adjusted to control the length of stroke of the pawl 20I and then looked in fixed position by means of a nut 2. At the lower end of the bracket I90 is a lateral arm or rest 2I2 for mounting the electromagnet I85, shown as a solenoid. Also mounted on the bracket I90 In the present drawings the holes der the tension of the spring 22I. When the solenoidjl is energized its armature will be retracted to draw the link 2I9 downwardly and rock the bell-crank 200 in contraclockwise direction to cause the pawl 20I to advance the ratchetdisk I95 through the distance of one tooth. A plunger-pin 2", shown by dotted lines in Figs. 8 and 9, is slidable in a bore above the bearing I93 on the bracket I and urged by a spring 2I8 to bear against the shaft- I94 to prevent unwarranted turning of the shaft and thereby the disk I95 in either direction.

Extending laterally from the bracket I90 is an arm 223 carrying a stud 224 at its end, on which is pivoted a switch-actuating lever 225, see the detailed view in Fig. 11. The lever 225 is controlled by a spring 226 anchored to an overhanging portion of the arm 223 and tending to raise the lever to hold it against a stop-screw 22'!v adjustable in a lug 228 on the arm 223. Mounted on the lever 225 is a detent-latch 230 held by a threaded pin 23I' projecting through the lever with a washer 232 bearing against the under side thereof and a spring 233 tensioned between another washer and a pair of nuts indicated generally at 234. The lever 225 carries an adjustable screw 235 at its outer end adapted to make contact with the end of a plunger 236 in the switch 2I3 for closing the electrical circuit through the switch. The lever 225 is depressed to close the electrical circuit through the switch 2I3 by the pin or pins 205 riding across a beveled projection 23! on the latch 230, see Fig. 10. As the pin 205 rides across the beveled projection 231 on the latch 230 after the ratchet-disk I90 has been turned through any predetermined part of or a complete revolution thelever 225 will be depressed to close the switch 2I3 and energize the solenoid 2I5 which controls the drive for the stack-lowering and releasing mechanism.

Electrical circuit Referring to Fig. 18, current for energizing the solenoids under the control of the counting mechanism described above may be taken through a plug in an outlet indicated at 240 with a manually-operative main switch shown at 2,4I in said circuit. Suitable conductors 242 and 243 connect the light-source or lamp "5 with the light-sensitive tube I16, and the circuit is continued through wire 244 to the relay-coil I80 and thence through the conductor 246 back to the other side of the line. A wire 245 leads from the conductor 243 to a contact for the switch-arm I8 The solenoid I85 is connected with the.

Electrically-operated clutchmechanism The clutch 253, shown generally in Fig. 16, is of substantially the same construction and arrangement as that described in my prior application referred to above. The clutch-members are mounted on the shaft 38 journaled in the bracket 3|, previously described as supported from the hanger 4 which mounts the electric motor [5. The shaft 38 carries the eccentric 35 which operates to rock the lever 48 for sliding thehorizontal rod or bar 45, all as previously explained, the shaft being driven by the clutch 253 connecting it to the sprocket 28. The sprocket 28 is driven by the chain 21 from the continuouslyoperated shaft 18 connected to the motor I5. Suflice it to state herein that the clutch 253 may be of any suitable construction with one member driven continuously by the sprocket 28 and clutched to another element on the shaft by releasing a pin 254 therefrom, the pin being slidably mounted in a bore in the bearing bracket 3| and actuated'from the solenoid 2i5 through a lever 255. The lever 255 is pivoted at 255 and connected to a vertical arm 251 forming a bellcrank therewith, see Fig. 16. The upper end of the arm 251 has a fork straddling a reduced portion of the pin 254 for sliding the latter against the tension of a spring 258 held in a pocket in the bearing-bracket 3|. Pivoted to the outer end of the lever 255 is a link 258 which connects it to the plunger-armature 268 of the solenoid 2l5. Energization of the solenoid 2i5 will retract its armature 280 to rock the lever 255 and thereby withdraw the pin 254 from the clutch-element to actuate the clutch mechanism and connect the shaft 38 for rotation by the sprocket 28. The

eccentric will thereby be rotated to slide the fork 31, see Figs. 5 and 17, to oscillate the lever for reciprocating the bar which operates the stack-lowering and releasing means. The energization of the solenoid H5 is of short duration so that the eccentric 35 is rotated only for a predetermined period or through one complete revolution; the pin 254 being re-engaged with the driven clutch element to arrest the rotation of the shaft 38 after the lever 48 has been rocked from one extreme to the other and back again to function in the-manner explained more fully hereinafter.

Carriage for stack-rests and end-holding means The rests for supporting the stack above the conveyor-belts 80 and the fingers or arms which abut the forward end of the stack as the blanks are being deposited thereon are mounted on a carriage 265 which is slidable longitudinally of the framework 5 of the apparatus and adjustable in position in accordance with the length of the objects being operated upon. As shown in Figs. 2, 3. 5 and 7, the carriage 265 is comprised of side plates 268 connected by cross-members 261 bolted to their ends in the form of a rectangular structure. the ends of the side plates 268 are two pairs of flanged wheels or rollers 210 having tapered peripheries adapted to roll on the inclined flanges of the side rails 8 of the framework 5, see Fig. 7.

12 l The carriage 285 may be locked in any position to which it is adjusted longitudinally of the framework 5 bymeans of a clamping device constructed as next described. Welded to the outer face of one side plate 288 of the carriage 285 is a flat vertical strip 2" see Figs. 5, 6 and 7, reaching up across the vertical flange of the outer angle-iron 18 which extends along the side of the frame-work 5 and forms one of the rests for the board 15 for supporting the conveyor-belts 88. A block 212 fastened to the top of the strip 2" has an upright portion 213 engaging against the rearward face of the flange of the angle-iron 18, see Fig. 6. A screw 214 threaded through the strip carries a handwheel 215 at its outer end with a shoe 218 at its inner end adapted to be clamped against the flange of the angle-iron 18 to hold the carriage against movement along the side rails 8. The plate 21l extends below the carriage 265and is provided with a rest or support for the sliding bar 45 to prevent the latter from sagging, see Fig. 5. The rest may consist of a slotted plate 211 adapted to be adjusted in height by means of a screw 218 threaded through a laterally-projecting shelf 218 on the plate 2H and locked in place by a nut 288. Suitable stop rods 26! are bolted to the end channel-irons 8 and H), see Figs. 2, 4 and 5, to limit the movement of the carriage 255 along the side rails 8.

Stack-rests Rising from the opposite ends of the carriage 285 are four posts 28! fastened to the crossmembers 261. Pivoted to the upper ends of the posts 28| are links 282 which are pivotally connected to lugs 283 on the under side of horizontal bars 285 which form the rests for supporting the stack'S above the conveyor-belts 88. The links Journaled on studs or axles 288 bolted to 282 serve as rockable hingearms for adapting the rest bars 285 to be depressed to lower the stack onto the conveyor-belts 88 while maintaining them in horizontal position. Fastened to the side of each of the posts 28! adjacent the end of the carriage 285 nearest the head end of the machine are angle-iron brackets 284 having set-screws 288 threaded therethrough with their ends adapted to bear against the ends of thelugs 283 on the underside of the rest bars 285 to support them in their lowered position, see Fig. 4. The rest bars 285 are raised and lowered through means mounted on a rotatable shaft 281 and actuated by the longitudinal movement of the bar 45. The shaft 281 is journaled in bearings 288 mounted on brackets 288 bolted to the side plates 288 of the carriage 285, see Figs. 5 and 7.

Rotary spiders A series of'arms 288 are disposed in pairs with each pair in turn adapted to be projected into upright position above the bed of the machine to function as a gate for defining the end of the compartment into which the blanks or other objects are deposited to form a stack. Fourarms 288 are arranged like spokes radiating from the axis of the shaft 281, thus constituting a spider 58, previously mentioned, two of which are mounted in spaced relationship on the shaft and rotatable therewith, see Figs. 4, 5, 7, and 12 to 15, inclusive.

The two spiders 50 are positioned between the inner conveyor-belts 88 as shown in Fig. 7 with 7 their raised arms 288 in opposed spaced relation to the fixed uprights or guides J88. Each arm 288 may comprise two opposite strips 28I of wood fastened in parallel spaced relationship as shown in Fig. 7 by means of blocks 282 inserted therespoke-member 295 and fixedly secured by a checknut 298. Each member 295 is formed with a hub 29'! mounted on a stud 298 for pivotally attaching the member and arm 289 to a supporting disk 300 secured fast on the shaft 281. Referring to Figs. 7 and 12, the pivotal displacement or rocking motion of each arm 289 about the axis of its stud 298 is controlled by a helical spring 30l, one end of 285. the hub abutting the inner face of said plate asshown in Fig. 7. Projecting downwardly from the am 325 is an L-shaped extension 328 to which is connected a spring 330 anchored at its opposite end to the under side of the side plate 288 at 33l, see Fig. 5. The spring 330 tends to rock the arm 325 to engage its locking stud 323 which is fastened to the member 295 and its opposite end anchored in a collar 302 secured fast on the stud by a set-screw 303 as shown more particularly in Fig. 7. Each collar 302 may be turned on its stud 298 to wind up the spring '30l and the set-screw 303 engaged with the shank of the stud to hold the spring under tension. The springs 30| tend to rotate the supporting members 295 to swing the arms 289 in contraclockwise direction about the axis of the disk 300 on which they are mounted. Detent-blocks 308 screwed to the ends of radial fingers 305 on the disk 300 are arranged to engage the sides of the members 295 to limit the movement of the arms 289 in contraclockwise direction. The arms 289 are free to swing in the opposite clockwise direction against the tension of the springs 30!. The socket members 295 for the arms 289 carry rollers 308 joumaled on studs 30! and adapted to ride up in under the rest bars 285 to raise them into position to support the stack S above the conveyor-belts 80 as shown in Figs. 12 and 15. When the spiders 50 are turned to carry their vertically-positioned arms 289 downwardly as shown in Fig. 14, the rollers 308 will ride along the bottom of the associated restbars 285 into slots or recesses 308 therein to cause the rest bars 285 to be depressed to lower the stack S onto the conveyor-belts 80. At this juncture the vertically-positioned arms 289 of the two spiders 290 will be rotated contraclockwise to release the stack S, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 15, to

adapt it to he traveled by the belts 80 and deposited on the truck 3.

Means for rotating spiders v The shaftj281 is rotated to turn the spiders 50 in the manner last explained by means of a gear 3I0 meshing with a driving gear 3 on a studshaft 3|5. The stud-shaft 3l5 is joumaled in a bearing bracket 3l8 bolted to the inner face of the side plate 288 of the carriage 285 at 3", see Figs. 5 and 7. The gear 3 is held fast on the shaft M5 by a set-screw 3 l8 in its hub, see Fig. 7. The stud-shaft 3I5 projects outwardly from its bearing beyond the side rail 8 of the framework 5 and carries certain instrumentalities acting to turn the shaft to rotate the gears 3i0 and 3| l and thereafter lock them in position with both spiders 50 in the relationship shown in Fig. 12. A pair of ratchet-disks 320 and 32! are mounted fast on the shaft 3| 5 at opposite sides of thebearing 3|8, the outer length of the shaft being reduced in diameter as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 'l. The inner disk 320, see Figs. 12 and 13, is provided with a series, of radial notches 322 spaced 90 apart around its periphery, each of' the notches being adapted to receive a locking stud 323 of rectangular cross-section engageable therein. The locking stud 323 is fastened to a pivoted arm 325 by means of its threaded shank extending through the end of the armand secured by a nut 328. The arm 325 has a square hub 328 pivoted on a stud 321 screwed into the side plate 288 of the carriage with one -of the notches 322 in the disk 320.

Actuating means for the spiders" The gear 3 which drives the gear 3I0 to turn the shaft 281 on which the spiders 50 are mounted is rotated by the ratchet-disk 32L The ratchetdisk 32| is rotated under the action of a pawl 335 carried at the end of an arm 338 mounted to oscillate about the stud-shaft 3l5. The pawl 335 is biased by a spring 331 fastened thereto and anchored to the arm 338 to cause its end to en gage in one of four notches forming teeth 338 in the-ratchet-disk 32!. An extension 339 on the arm 338 is connected by a spring 380 to a Z-shaped bracket 38!, see Fig. 4. attached to the side plate 258 of the carriage 285, the spring tending to rock the arm rearwardly to retract the pawl 335 relatively of the teeth 338 on the disk 32!. Referring to Fig. 12, the rearward motion of the arm 338 is limited by its extension 339 striking the end of a set-screw 381 in a bracket 388 fastened to the side plate 288 of the carriage 285. The arm 338 is caused to be oscillated to carry thepawl for- .the framework 5. A spring 35l fastened to the member 388 and anchored at its opposite end to the Z-shaped bracket 3" tends to draw the member 388 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 5 to normally locate the member with its roller 385 against the end of an adjustable stopscrew 352 threaded through anangular bracket 353 fastened to the bracket 388 on the carriage 285. The screw 352 may be adiusted in the bracket 353 to limit the extent of the return stroke of the member 388 after the ratchetmechanism has been actuated by the movement of the bar 85.

It has been stated that the bar 85 is moved toward the left to cause the roller 385 on the member 388 to rock the arm 338 and actuate the pawl 335 to turn the ratchet-disk 321, but

. must be released from the notch 322 in the disk 320 with which itis engaged. For this purpose the initial movement of the member 388 with the bar is caused to rock the am 325 to raise the locking stud 323 out of the notch in the disk 320; there being lost motion between the roller 385 and the pawl-arm 338. The memher 388 is provided with 'an upstanding portion 358 through which extends a stud 355 carrying a square block 358 at its end. The forward corner of the block 358 is beveled at 351 to provide an inclined face adapted to engage with a corresponding bevel on a block 358 fastened to the end of a lever 380 by a screw 383, see Figs. 12 and 13. The lever 380 has a laterally-projecting toe 38l formed with a. rounded end which engages under the L-shaped extension 328 of the arm 325 for rocking the arm upwardly when the lever is actuated by contact of the block 358.

To control the rotation of the shaft 281 carry-.

ing the spiders 58 and prevent its overrunning, due to backlash or play between the parts, a

brake 318, shown in Figs. 3 and his provided.

The brake 318 may be of any. suitable construction in the form of an arm fastened to the side plate 268 of the carriage 255 by a bolt 3" and nuts 312 with itsppposite end frictionally engaging a collar 313 fast on the shaft 281 to resist its turning.

Method of operation of complete apparatus The apparatus is adjusted for the particular type of objects to be counted, stacked and conveyed by sliding the carriage 265 longitudinally of the framework 5 after releasing the clamping means by turning the hand-wheels 215 and 358, see Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The wheels 218 on the carriage 255 roll easily on the lower flanges of the side rails 8, see Fig. 'l, and the carriage carries the rest bars 285 which support the stack S of blanks B or other objects, and also the rotary spiders 58 whose arms 289 define the forward end of the compartment in which the blanks are stacked. The carriage 285 is adjusted in position with the upright arms 288 of the two spiders 58 spaced at a'distanoe from the vertical guide H8 in accordance with the length of the blanks B, and the rest bars 285 will then be in a posi-. tion to adapt their rearward portions to underlie the forward portion of. the stack S, see Fig. 2. After the carriage has thus been adjusted in proper relationship the hand-wheel 215 is turned to tighten the clamping means against the Vertical flange of the. longitudinally-extending angle-iron 18 to hold the carriage in fixed position. If the carriage 285 is adjusted toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 5. to increase the length of the space in the blank-receiving compartment the stop-screw 352 will slide the member 388 along the rod 85 into proper relation to the spideractuating means. On the other'hand, if the carriage is moved in the opposite direction the spring 35I will slide the member 386 in the same direction to locate it in contact with the stopscrew 352. After either shifting of the member 388 it is clamped in position by turning, the hand-wheel 358. The stop-rods 288 act to engage the ends of the carriage 265 to limit its extent of adjustment in either direction so as to prevent it from interfering with other parts of the mechanism of the apparatus.

To complete the four walls of the compartment for the stack the side boards 88 are adjusted laterally on the framework 5 in accordance with the width ofthe blanks B or other objects to be handled. Adjustment of the side boards 88 is accomplished by lifting their brackets 8| and moving them along the arms 82 to fit their pins 85, see Fig. 7, inthe proper holes 88 in the top of the arms. When the blanks or ment of the side boards 88 may be obtained by releasing the set-screws and sliding the rods 83 through their bearings 88, after which the setscrews are tightened to secure the arms 8| in place.

Referring to Fig. 18, current is applied to the electrical circuit by closing the manually-operated switch 28I after the connector has been plugged intothe outlet 288. The lamp I15 then will be ignited to case its beam of light L downwardly to the photo-electric cell I18 in the box I11 and the apparatus is ready for operation. The processing machine, which in the present case is represented as a wire-stitcher M, is started to operate to staple the flaps of the carton-blanks fed thereto. Continuous operation of the stitcher M will feed the stapled blanks B therefrom across the rollers I88, I52 and I5I, see Fig. 2, to cause them to be deposited in the compartment formed by the guides I88 and H8, arms 285 of the twin spiders 58 and the side boards 88.

As each carton-blank B is discharged from the stitcher M to pass between the source of light I15 and the light-sensitive tube I 18 in the box I11 it will interrupt the beam of light L to deenergize the relay-coil I88, see Fig. 18. The switch-arm I will therefore be released and swung away from the contact I83 under the tension of the spring I82, whereby to open the circuit to the electromagnet I85 of the counting device in the box or casing I88, see Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive. De-energization of the electromagnet or solenoid I85 will release the bell-crank lever 288 and cause the spring 22I to rock it in clockwise direction to retract the pawl 28I through an idle stroke to the position indicated in Fig. 8. After the trailing 'edge of the carton-blank B passes beyond the beam of light L and the latter is again projected to the light-sensitive cell I18 the relay-coil I88 will be re-energized and the switch-arm I8I attracted against the contact I88 to close the circuit to the solenoid I85. Energization of the solenoid I85 will cause it to draw down the link 2I8 and rock the bell-crank 288 to cause the pawl 28I to advance the ratchetdisk I85 through a distance equal to the space of one tooth. In this manner the ratchet-mechanism is actuated repeatedly by the delivery of each carton-blank B to count any predetermined number of blanks delivered to the stacking apparatus. It has been explained that the pins 285 are set in the proper holes 283 in the ratchetdisk I85 in accordance with the whole number of carton-blanks or other objects to be assembled'in a stack. For example, as shown in the present drawings, two pins 285 are fixed in diametrically-opposite holes on the ratchet-disk I85 so that each time the disk'is turned through it will cause one of the pins to engage the projection 231 on the switch-actuating lever 225 toclose the circuit to initiate the operation of reieasing the stack and transporting it from the machine. Consequently, since the ratchet-disk has fifty teeth on its periphery each half revolution thereof will act to count twenty-five blanks to be assembled in a stack.

Actuation of the lever 225 by the: pin 285 on the disk I85 will depress the plunger 238 of the switch 2I3 to close the circuit to the solenoid M5 for operating the clutch-mechanism at the driving endof themachine. As the armature 2881s drawn downwardly, by the solenoid 2I5 it will rock the bell-crank, constituted by the arms 255 and 251, see Fig. 16, to withdraw the pin 258 from the clutch and thereby connect the continuously-driven sprocket 28 to rotate the shaft 36 carrying the eccentric 35. The energization of the solenoid 2I-6 is timed from the ratchet-mechanism in the control-box to turn the shaft'36 through one complete revolution so that the eccentric 35, see Figs. 5 and 17, will act on the roller 36 to rock the lever 46 and its connected lever 44 through a complete stroke. in each direction. The initial movement of the lever 44 is toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 17, so thatthe horizontal bar 45 will be drawn in the 7 same direction to cause the member 346 which is clamped thereto to actuate the ratchet-mechanism for turning the spiders 56. Referringv to Figs. 12 to 13, the block 356 carried by the member 346 will first come into engagement with the block 358 on the lever 366 to rock the latter in clockwise direction. Under this action the toe' 36I on the lever 366 will act on the L-shaped extension 328 of the arm 325 to swing the latter upwardly about its pivot 321 whereby to withdraw the locking stud 323 from the notch 322 in the disk 326 as shown in Fig. 13. Immediately thereafter the roller 345 on the member 346 will make contact with the arm 336, see Figs. 14 and 15, to rock the arm to advance the pawl 335 and turn the ratchet-disk 32I. The motion of the member 346 with the bar 45' is of such extent as to turn the disk 32I through an arc of 90 whereof the gear 3 will rotate the gear 3I6 to an equal extent. The gear 3I6 will therefore turn the shaft 281 to rotate the twin spiders 56 to swing their arms 289 through an arc of 90", thus removing one pair of arms 268 from a vertical position to horizontal relationship while replacing them with the next .succeeding arms on the two spiders. It has been stated that each spider has 4 radial arms, but in Figs. 12 to 15 only three arms are shown as the fourth arm would confuse the showing of the driving mechanism.

As the twin spiders 56 are rotated in the manner above explained the rollers 366 on the socket members 295 on the disks 366 will ride along the.

under side of the rest bars 285 into the slots or openings 368 to permit the rests to drop, as indi- I cated in Fig. 14, so that the stack S of blanks will descend onto the conveyor-belts 66 to be transported thereby; it being understood-that there are two rest bars 285 thus operated from the twin spiders 56.

As indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the stack S of blanks B will start to move with the continuously-operated conveyor-belts 66 as it is released by the upstanding arms 288 of the spiders 56 and since the rotation of the spiders is at a relatively rapid rate the stack will be rapidly transported out of the way to provide for assembling the next succeeding stack in the same position. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 4 that as one pair of arms 269 of the twin spiders 56 move away from the leading end of the stack S the next pair of arms will come up under the rearward end of the stack; but due to the fact that the arms are arranged to swing about their pivots 298 on the disk 366 their upward motion is delayed until the stack being transported has advanced to a certain extent. The springs 36I then will complete the upward movement of these following arms 289 and the detent-blocks 364 will engage with the socket members 295 to maintain the arms in vertical position. As the arms 268 rise into upright position their rollers 366 will lift the rest bars 285 to restore them to position 1 for receiving the next series of blanks B to be stacked.

Rotary motion of the spiders 56 is arrested as the member 346 on the bar'45 reaches the end of the stroke to the left after turning the ratchetdisk 32I through 90, and at this point the bar 45 starts its return motion. As the bar 45 moves toward the right the block356 rides out from under the block 358 to permit the arm 366 to release the lever 325 which is urged by the spring 336 to re-engage the lock-stud 323 with its related notch 322 in the disk 326. As the eccentric 35 is turned through, the second half revolution the relatively strong spring I35 connected to the lever I28, see Fig. 4, draws the bar 45 toward the right to restore it to first position. The return motion of the bar 45 restores the member 346 to its initial relationship with its roller 345 abutting the end of the stop-screws 352. It should be explained that the purpose of mounting the block 358 to pivot on the arm 366 is to insure that the operating block 356 on the member 346 will ride freely under the firstnamed block during the return stroke of the bar45.

" Operation of stack pusher-guide It has been explained that the bar 45 is connected to the lever I36 which is fast on the shaft I29 carrying the companion lever I28. The lever I28 is connected to the slidable rod I25 through the link I21 and, consequently, during the first described movement'of the bar 45 toward the left its motion will be communicated through the levers I36, I28 and link I2'I to the rod I25 to cause the latter to move in the same direction. The, rod I25 is connected by the arm I24 to the slidable rod I26 which carries the support I I I for the pusher-guide I I 2 and through the means just described this latter element is caused to bear against the trailing end of the stack S and advance therewith to maintain the blanks B in alinement at the beginning of the travel of the stack with the conveyor-belts 66. In this manner any tendency of the uppermost blanks B in the stack S to lag behind the underlying blanks, due to inertia or other cause, will be overcome so that the blanks will be maintained in symmetrical, alined relationship for transport along the bed of th machine to deliver them to the table 3 shown in Fig. 1. After the completed stack has been transferred to the table 3 it may he slid along the rollers thereof manually to either locate it in position for delivery to another machine or for tying in a bundle tobe transported to a location for shipp It has been explained that after each stack S has .been conveyed from the compartment in which the blanks are assembled, a pair of arms and stack another set of blanks delivered thereto The present apparatus provides important improvements to effect accurate counting of the blanks or other objects as they are delivered thereto; increase the speed of operation of the disruption of the continuity of functioning of its various parts. While the improvements are herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form or construction, it is to be understood that modifications may be madetherein with- Out departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. An apparatus of the type indicated comprising continuously moving conveying means, means for supporting objects in stacked relationship adjacent the conveying means, relatively stationary means for guiding the objects to maintain them in alined relationship, a rotary spider pivoted on an axis below the conveying means and having radial arms adapted to be projected into upright position above the conveying means in opposed relation to the fixed guiding means to form a com partment for the objects, means for releasing the supporting means to lower the stack onto the conveying means, and means operated concurrently therewith for rotating .the spider to release its arm from the stack to cause the latter to be transported by the conveying means while moving another arm into position above the conveying means to form a compartment for the next succeeding stack deposited on the supporting means.

2. An apparatus of the type indicated comprising continuously moving conveying means, rests for supporting a series of objects delivered thereto in position elevated above the conveying means, a rotary spider pivoted on an axis below the conveying means and having radial arms movable into upright position above the conveying means for engaging the forward edges or the objects to halt their forward motion across the rests and maintain them in alined relationship in a stack on the rests, means for rotating the spider to release its arm from the stack, and means operated by the rotation of the spider to lower the rests to transfer the stack to the conveying means for transport thereby.

3. An apparatus of the type indicated comprising a framework, conveying means extending longitudinally of the framework, means for operating the conveying means, a. carriage adjustable longitudinally of the framework, meansfor clamping the carriage in adjusted position on the framework, means on the carriage for supporting the objects in elevated position above the conveying means, a spider rotatably mounted on the carriage and provided with radial arms for retaining the objects in alinement on the supporting means, and means operative after a predetermined number of objects have been stacked to lower the supporting means to transfer the stack onto the conveying means and rotate the spider to release the stack for transport by the conveying means.

4. 'In an apparatus of the type indicated having means for supporting a plurality of sheet-like objects in stacked relationship, and conveying means i or transporting the stack, the combination of a spider journaled to rotate on an axis below the conveying means and having radial arms adapted to be projected into erect position above the conveying means and across the end of the stack to maintain the objects in alined relationship, detent means for releasably locking the spider in stationary position, and means operative after a predetermined number of objects have been assembled in the stack to release the supporting means to transfer the stack onto the conveying means, unlock the detent means and rotate the spider to release its arm from the end of the stack to cause the latter to be transported by the conveying means.

5. An apparatus of the type indicated comprising conveying means, means for supporting a stack of abjects adjacent the conveying means. means for transferring the stack of objects from the supporting means to the conveying means, a spider having arms projecting from its axis, means for resiliently maintaining the arms in radial disposition at an angle of ninety degrees, said arms being adapted to project vertically across the end 01' the stack to maintain the objects in alinement, and means operative alter upwardly into erect position under the control of the resilient means as it rides under and across the trailing endoi' the stack.

6. An apparatus of the type indicated comprising conveying means, means for supporting ob jects in stacked relation adjacent the conveying means, means for transferring a stack of objects from the supporting means to the conveying means, a rotary spider having arms projecting radially from its axis, resilient means for maintaining said arms equally spaced apart about the axis of the spider, means for limiting the movement of the arms under the action of the resilientmeans, means for releasably locking the spider in position with one of its arms projecting vertically across the end or a stack on the supporting means, and means for intermittently rotating the spider to relase one of its arms from the end of a, stack and carry a succeeding arm upwardly under. the stack as it is transported by the conveying means, said arm being urged by the resilient means to eventually stand in erect position to control another stack of objects as the spider is locked from further turning motion.

7. In an apparatus oi! the type indicated having a travelable conveyor-belt and means for delivering articles to transport them in stacks on said belt, the combination of a spider journaled to rotate an on axis below said belt and having radial arms pivotally mounted adjacent its axis, detent means for normally maintaining said arms of the spider equidistantly spaced about its axis, resilient means yieldable to permit the-arms to pivot to move away from the detent means, and means for intermittently rotating the spider to project each arm into vertical position above the conveyor-belt.

8. In an apparatus or the type indicated comprising a plurality of conveyor-belts arranged in spaced-apart relationship and travelable in unison to convey stacks of articles thereon, the combination of a rotary spider journaled on an axis below said conveyor-belts and having radial arms adapted to project upwardly between the belts, detent means for normally maintaining said arms equidistantly spaced aboutthe axis oi the spider, resilient means for permitting the arms to rock rearwardly during rotation of the spider, and means for rotating the spider to cause each arm to be moved into erect position to engage the edges of a series of articles stacked above the conveyor-belts, said resilient means adapting the next adjacent arm to rock rearwardly when it engages under the stack as the first-named arm is 21 moved to release the stack for traveling it on the conveyor-belts.

9. In an apparatus of the type specified having conveying means and means to travel said conveying means to transport articles stacked thereon, the combination of a rotary spider having radial arms pivoted about the axis of the spider to adapt them to swing in one direction, detent means to prevent the arms from swinging on their pivots in the opposite direction, springs for urging the arms into engagement with the detent means, means for rotating the spider intermittently to carry the arms upwardly and forwardly, means tollock the spider in position with one of its arms in erect position above the conveying means, and means for releasing said locking means to permit rotation of the spider through an arc of ninety degrees.

10. In an apparatus of the type indicated comprising conveying means and means for delivering articles fortransport on said conveying means, the combination of a spider journaled on an axis below said conveyin means, said spider provided with a plurality of arms pivoted on axes surrounding the axis of the spider to adapt them to rock relatively thereto, detent means for preventing the arms from rocking in one direction, re silient means for normally urging said arms into engagement with the detent means, and means for intermittently rotating the spider to successively raise each of the arms into erect position above the conveying means.

11. In an apparatus of the type specified comprising a conveyor-belt and means for traveling said belt to transport articles stacked thereon,

Number Name Date 1,365,741 Speer Jan. 18, 1921 1,569,032 Reichel Jan. 12, 1926 1,600,958 Hart et al Sept. 21, 1926 1,693,632 Zuckerman Dec. 4, 1928 1,792,878 Wagner Feb. 17, 1931 2,256,327 Parkes et al Sept. 16, 1941 the combination of a rest for supporting a stack of articles above the conveyor-belt, means for releasing the articles from the rest to transfer them onto the conveyor-belt, a stationary guide at the rear of said rest, a spider journaled to rotate adjacent the forward end of the rest, said spider provided with radial arms pivoted on in dividual axes adjacent the axis of the spider, detent means for normally holding said arms spaced equidistantly around the axis of the spider, resilient means for normally holding said arms in engagement with the detent means, and means for rotatin the spider to progressively move its arms into erect position in spaced relation to the stationary guide to form a compartment therebetween while adapting the arms to rock on their pivots as they move toward erect position when said arms engage under a stack of articles released from the rest for transfer to the conveyorbelt.

GEORGE H. HARRED.

REFERENCES C'ITED The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

